Title: Tur
Series: The Elsker Saga #0.5
Author: S.T. Bende
Genre/Age Range: Paranormal, Romance, New Adult
Release Date: May 29, 2014
Goodreads Link: http://tinyurl.com/kmnttof
Some things are worth fighting for.
Trailer
Series: The Elsker Saga #1
Author: S.T. Bende
Genre/Age Range: Paranormal, Romance, New Adult
Release Date: May 29, 2014
Goodreads Link: http://tinyurl.com/lo4y6oz
You don’t win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way.
Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest to goodness Norse God - an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms. Her orderly life just got very messy.
ELSKER
Excerpt:
“Are
you sure you will be all right on the stairs?” Ull stood in the
grand hall of Cardiff Castle, glancing at the four-inch, shiny
death-traps Victoria called shoes. Since Ull’s eyes practically
bugged out of his face when he picked me up, I had no intention of
changing into the emergency flats I’d stuck in my purse. Victoria
had scored another hit.
“Probably
not. Walk behind me in case I fall?”
“It
would be my pleasure.”
“On
our right, the coats of arms,” continued the tour guide. He’d
been talking for a good five minutes and I couldn’t remember a
single word. That was because Ull had started stroking the small of
my back when our tour began, and it
took all my concentration just to stay upright.
“The
castle is gorgeous.” I admired the stonework as we made our way
toward the stairs. There I shifted focus to my feet, staring at each
step until I’d reached the top. “Made it.”
“And
I was so hoping I would get to catch you.” Ull came up next to me
and skimmed my hand with the pads of his fingers.
“Well,
the night is young and these shoes are high. You may still get your
chance.”
“Tease.”
Ull kissed my palm.
“Um.”
I swayed on the heels and he chuckled.
“Come,
Miss Tostenson. We are losing the group.”
“Right.”
We
walked the long corridor framed with paintings. All of the history in
these walls was kind of overwhelming. The castle was two thousand
years old. The oldest thing we had back in Nehalem was probably the
Homestead. Cardiff Castle had about eighteen hundred years on that
farm.
“This
place is huge,” I whispered when we’d caught up to the tour. “I
can’t imagine living here. How could you ever get comfortable?”
“You
get used to it,” Ull shrugged. “Find little corners to make your
own.”
“How
on earth could anyone get used to all of this?”
“When
you are stuck in it every day it gets old. Trust me.”
“Right.”
Like Ull was an authority on royal dwellings. “Living in a castle
sounds sooo terrible.”
“Depends
on the day.”
“What
does that mean?”
“Just
that these walls did more than keep people out -- they kept people
in, too.”
I
thought about my vision from Friday night -- of Ull and me in a
meadow by a castle. Huh.
“Where
did you say your family lived, exactly?” I probed.
But
Ull bristled. I’d hit a nerve. “Come Kristia, we have lost our
group again.” He gently pulled me down the hall.
“You
may have noticed the Animal Wall in front of the Castle. Though
William Burges designed the Wall in 1866, it was not constructed
until 1890 -- nine years after Burges’s death.” The guide lifted
an eyebrow as we caught up. “Please do try to stay with the tour,”
he admonished before turning down another corridor. The rest of the
group followed closely.
“Sorry.”
I ducked my head.
Ull
raised a corner of his mouth in a smile. “Why, Kristia, you are
blushing.”
“And?”
I lifted my chin, and took a step back so I stood against the wall.
“It
is sweet.” Ull paused and lifted a finger to my cheek. My knees
buckled and he grabbed my arm to steady me. The touch sent shockwaves
straight to my head, leaving me with the unnerving sensation of being
underwater. I lost my bearings again and Ull wrapped both hands
around my waist to stop my fall.
“Sorry,”
I mouthed. “Must be the shoes.” I couldn’t stop staring at his
eyes. They almost looked nervous.
“Must
be.” He ran his finger along my jaw, stopping to grasp my chin
between his thumb and forefinger. His eyes focused on my mouth and my
heartbeat accelerated. He ran his thumb lightly over my lips. They
parted under his touch. A wave of heat shot from my lower lip
straight to my abdomen, creating a slow burn that wasn’t altogether
uncomfortable. I watched as his eyes slowly moved down then back up,
lingering at the neckline of my dress. Victoria had been right about
the push-up bra.
“Must
be,” I repeated.
Ull
drew his eyes away from my cleavage and took a step closer. He leaned
one forearm against the wall, leaving me enveloped between the cold
stone and his warm chest. I was suddenly very dizzy.
“Kristia,”
he spoke in a whisper.
“Yes?”
I whispered back. Ull was looking at me with an intensity I wasn’t
prepared for. He stepped in, closing the last inch between us.
“Look
at me.” He spoke again, lifting my chin so my lips were tilted
towards his. If his body hadn’t been pressed against mine, I would
have collapsed in a heap that instant. Instead, I took a shaky breath
as Ull dropped his head. He ran his nose along my jaw line, pausing
when he reached my ear. He breathed in, the cool air sending a shiver
down my neck. With painstaking slowness he drew his nose across my
cheek until our lips were almost touching. Now when I looked into his
eyes I saw something entirely different. He was strong. Confident.
And very much in control.
I
let out a small sigh and immediately he covered my mouth with his. It
wasn’t a gentle kiss -- it was commanding, almost forceful. I
melted against him as he claimed my lips, moved down my jaw to
consume my neck. My insides throbbed. In that moment, I would have
done absolutely anything he asked me to.
“Kristia,”
he whispered again.
“Mmm.”
It was the best I could muster by way of response.
“I
think we need to stop.”
In
God’s name, why?
“Will
you be joining the rest of my tour, or shall I leave the two of you
here?” The guide stood at the end of the corridor, literally
tapping his foot. Oops.
Ull
placed his hands around my waist to right me. I smoothed my hair and
straightened my dress, my cheeks burning the whole time.
“Great
timing,” I muttered. Just when things were getting good.
“Do
not worry Kristia.” Ull winked. “We have all the time in the
world.”
I
sure hoped so.
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Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the ELSKER series. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail to stbende@gmail.com.
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